Don't Let the Government Take Money from Vets and Their Families!

The Department of Defense ordered thousands of soldiers to pay back their enlistment bonuses. Our vets don't deserve this!

VICTORY! As of January 3, the Pentagon decided not to force the repayments for the vast majority of cases for more than 15,000 California National Guard soldiers and veterans who received enlistment bonuses over the last decade.

Final signature count: 14,553

Sponsored by:The Veterans Site

From 2006 to 2008, in order to bolster a shortage of fighting troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, the California National Guard offered bonuses of $15,000 or more to soldiers to reenlist.

A decade later, after audits revealed widespread overpayments by the California National Guard, the Department of Defense began forcing thousands of soldiers who accepted those enlistment bonuses to cough the money back up. If these soldiers didn't repay their enlistment bonuses, they were liable to be slapped with interest charges, wage garnishments, and tax liens.

Now, after pushback from citizens across the country, the Department of Defense has altered their stance. Defense Secretary Ash Carter ordered a temporary halt of his staff's seeking of repayment. In its place he has ordered that a process be developed by January 1st, 2017, so that service members will still have to pay back their debt, but that they can do so in ways that are less harmful to their quality of life.

This is absurd. Many of these veterans served their country through multiple combat tours, in both Iraq and Afghanistan. Some were wounded. Some gave the ultimate sacrifice. They shouldn't have to refinance mortgages, medical bills, and student loan payments. They shouldn't have to pay for the mistakes of the U.S. Government.

Sign the petition below demanding Defense Secretary Ash Carter to forgive these debts, and to forever stop demanding payback from veterans and their families.

JavaScript is required to sign this petition!

Dear Defense Secretary Carter,

From 2006 to 2008, the California National Guard financially incentivized reenlistment so that military presence within Iraq and Afghanistan could be strengthened. Thousands of soldiers responded, and used their bonuses as they saw fit. Mortgages. Medical bills. Student loans.

I understand that there are a lot of moving parts within the California National Guard. I understand that there are a lot of moving parts within the Department of Defense. I also understand that you have a responsibility to both the service member and the taxpayer, and that developing a process to semi-please both parties is what you'd consider a win-win scenario.

But this is wrong. These men and women risked everything for you, for me, for this country. They and their families shouldn't be asked to shrug their shoulders at a promise broken by the government they swore to protect.

Tying a bow called "process" on the matter, and continuing to force veterans and their families to repay decades-old enlistment bonuses is more than a mistake  it's a tragedy I'll never be able to forgive.

Defense Secretary Carter, I demand that you do what is morally right, and forgive these enlistment bonus debts, now, and forever.

Sincerely,

Petition Signatures

Sep 17, 2017Richard Han

Sep 15, 2017Mary Barker

Sep 14, 2017Lauri Moon

Sep 11, 2017June Curley

Sep 3, 2017Pat Brown

Aug 18, 2017Mary Ware

Aug 18, 2017Yolanda Aguilar

Aug 18, 2017David Pascoe

Aug 18, 2017sophia rubinstein

Aug 16, 2017Terry LowePresident Trump, please way in on this and make this commitment a sealed deal. After all a deal is a deal. NO backing out!

Aug 7, 2017Dawn Shock

Aug 7, 2017Venice Rembold

Aug 7, 2017danielle jacques

Aug 7, 2017Michelle Howland

Aug 6, 2017Patricia Lewis

Aug 6, 2017Kim Hanke

Aug 6, 2017christine etapa

Aug 6, 2017Vanessa Montoya

Aug 3, 2017Corinne Kissell

Aug 3, 2017Ivan Zhyvolup

Aug 1, 2017Kathy & Judy Sutter

Jul 31, 2017Jack Martin

Jul 31, 2017Fern Swecker

Jul 30, 2017Jo-Ann Sangataldo

Jul 30, 2017Sharon gooding

Jul 27, 2017(Name not displayed)

Jul 25, 2017Lori Visioli

Jul 23, 2017Denise Griffin

Jul 20, 2017Donald Windus

Jul 19, 2017Rachel Howe

Jul 18, 2017(Name not displayed)

Jul 16, 2017Yvonne SierraThis is Bullshit..they should have not to pay back..

Jul 15, 2017Robin PersonsAn absolute travesty. An insult to our veterans and I am one of them.

Jul 14, 2017(Name not displayed)

Jul 14, 2017Pam Hoadley

Jul 12, 2017(Name not displayed)

Jul 12, 2017(Name not displayed)

Jul 12, 2017Lenda Earl

Jul 10, 2017Janet Magdaleno

Jul 10, 2017cheryl rosenthalthey should be ashamed of themselves vets paid with their lives. gave on everything to serve their countries and come back and nothing.

Jul 9, 2017Tony HAMILTONF**K OFF! GET IT FROM THE CLINTONS AND OBAMA. YOU TRYING TO BREAK A CONTRACT ? A CLASS ACTION SUIT WILL STOP THIS S**T.

Jul 9, 2017Richard DentonYou have got to be kidding, this is outrageous! We voluntarily risk our lives for our country and this is how they repay us? Somebody better do something fast or you will surely have lawsuits coming out your ears and other places!!

Jul 9, 2017Maria Jesus Escobedo Barrera

Jul 9, 2017Rose Campanello

Jul 9, 2017George Anderson

Jul 8, 2017(Name not displayed)It is a criminal act to force these soldiers to repay the incentive money. The government should be ashamed of this.